By Joshua Corcuera
We celebrate World Teachers’ Day this October 5 in recognition of our educators who teach us. Clearly, our teachers have taught us vital lessons not only within the four corners of the classroom, but also in real-life. Without them, there couldn’t be any other profession in this world we are living in. Highly respected professionals — lawyers, doctors, engineers, scientists, and more — wouldn’t be where they are right now without the teachers and professors who taught them how to defend the oppressed, to save lives, to build structures, and to broaden human knowledge.
With this in mind, it is important to thank our teachers for the significant contribution they have done to society. Furthermore, it is just as essential to look at their suffering and sacrifices just to make sure that they could teach their students.
Society’s torch is dimming: The plight of teachers
Thanking teachers is great to recognize their contribution to us, but, to be candid, it is not enough given the enormous challenges their profession face. The best illustration for this is the salaries and wages of teachers. For instance, in 2019, public school teachers with a position of Teacher I have a salary grade of 11 which is equivalent to ₱20,754 per month. According to teacherph.com, approximately 60% — or 3 out of 5 — of licensed teachers in private schools earn roughly ₱12,500.00 monthly.
Obviously, these earnings are meager given the rising cost of living in the Philippines. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers said in May 2019 that the current teachers’ pay is not enough to cope with the rising prices of goods and services as it falls short of the estimated ₱23,660 monthly income that a family of 5 needs to get by, based on a study of think-tank IBON Foundation. And it’s not just a matter of wages, besides being underpaid, teachers in the Philippines also tend to be overworked. Educators handle big classes for several hours in poor school facilities, especially in rural areas where some even walk for hours. The harsh conditions that teachers find themselves in may result in poor education quality as they struggle to work effectively.
Thank you is not enough, reforms are needed
With the plight and struggle of teachers mentioned earlier, it is apparent that thanking them for their work is not sufficient enough. What is needed is to initiate reforms allowing for better working conditions, and higher salaries and benefits for educators. After all, education is supposedly a priority within our country, especially that we’re a developing nation.
Speaking of better working conditions, teachers deserve a safe space where they can properly perform their tasks. At the same time, they should no longer bear the burden of spending on teaching equipment as it would further decrease their already meager income. It is imperative for lawmakers as well to prioritize discussion and deliberation on how to increase the salaries of public and private teachers alike.
As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, it is timely to alleviate the suffering of teachers and uplift them from their struggles. This could be our way — in form of action — to say thank you to the source of all professions in society. In the end, better working conditions and decent wages could help them perform their tasks well, and ultimately, improve the quality of teaching in our country.
